A traditional shinko procession in the Yoshitake area, with chochin and a daimyo procession moving through the night
Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year, both nights spanning the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October / Every year
- Location
- Hasshogu and the temporary shrine (along the Tsuri River)
- Area
- Fukuoka Prefecture・Munakata City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
This nighttime shinko ceremony, passed down in the Yoshitake area of Munakata, is held to pray for bountiful harvests and good health. The procession from Hasshogu to the temporary shrine includes a daimyo procession, shishigaku, musical , and 3 .
About Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony
The Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony is a traditional nighttime event passed down in the Yoshitake area of Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Prayers are offered for bountiful harvests and good health, with rites from the transfer of the spirit through the , the temporary shrine rites, and the return procession.
The event appears in an account from 1683 (Tenwa 3) in the “Hassho Daimyojin Engi,” and was designated an intangible folk cultural property by Munakata City in 2018.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the shinko procession, with about 200 participants, and especially the daimyo procession, which is documented in particular detail.
High-mounted are carried in a line, followed by the sacred falcon, sword, firearms, long sword, bow, upright spear, bird-feather standards, and white-feather bear standards, among other items.
The procession moves along the nighttime roads with shishigaku, musical taiko, and other music, as well as the large, medium, and small mikoshi.
A traditional shinko procession in the Yoshitake area, with chochin and a daimyo procession moving through the night
What to expect
The event follows this sequence: preparations in each area, the rite to transfer the spirit, the procession to the temporary shrine, rites at the temporary shrine, the procession back, and the rite to return the spirit.
The shinko procession leaves Hasshogu at 10 p.m., passes through the settlement, and heads to the temporary shrine along the Tsuri River, about 1 km away.
After that, they return to Hasshogu just after midnight.
Roles are assigned by area, and preparations and practice begin about 2 months beforehand.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hasshogu (Yoshitake area, Munakata) / temporary shrine (along the Tsuri River, about 1 km from Hasshogu)
Event venue 福岡県宗像市 八所宮
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Every year, both nights spanning the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Fukuoka Prefecture / Munakata City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
宗像大社
福岡県宗像市にある神社
Origins and History of Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony
The Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony also appears in an account from 1683 (Tenwa 3) in the “Hassho Daimyojin Engi.”
Today, the shinko ceremony is held as a traditional event in the Yoshitake area of Munakata, with prayers for bountiful harvests and good health.
In September 28, 2018, it was designated an intangible folk cultural property by Munakata City, and has been passed down along with fixed roles for each area, preparations, and practice.
Official information
Cultural Heritage Online: “Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony”
Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony at a Glance
The Hasshogu Shinko Ceremony is a nighttime shinko ceremony in the Yoshitake area of Munakata, held to pray for bountiful harvests and good health.
The procession leaves Hasshogu at 10 p.m., heading to the temporary shrine with chochin, a daimyo procession, shishigaku, musical taiko, and 3 mikoshi, among other participants, and returns just after midnight.
It is mentioned in records from 1683 and was designated an intangible folk cultural property by Munakata City in 2018.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/11
